"Physio Therapy!"

Aware that no longer need to see doctor to be referred for physio therapy (sounds good in principle - frees up doctors, should speed process for patient)!

Reality; given card by reception staff to ring a 0300 number only needing to quote my NHS number, this is going to be easy I thought!.

FACT: having got through to this supposedly better alternative I was told it would be around 4 WEEKS before I could SPEAK to a physio for a telephone assessment and then the wait to see a physio would be as long as it took!

So being totally unimpressed I returned to reception and was then given a form to complete and post directly to the LRI Physio Department and then to wait a telephone call within 48 hours of them receiving, it worked posted on a Tuesday call on the Friday.

Unfortunately it’s still another 3 weeks before can be seen........

Summary: yes the new system has freed up Doctors appointments but how does running 2 systems help the patient who is need of sound medical advice.........

Even the LRI Physio Dept were shocked by my experience!

Is this really progress or a waste of patients time, and NHS resources, because someone is benefiting but it’s not the patient who is in pain!